Airport controversy: Hazzard defends Tralee decision

NSW Planning Minister
Brad Hazzard
has insisted the government’s approval of the Tralee housing development near Canberra Airport does not contradict advice from the state’s independent planning commission.

As federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister
Anthony Albanese
stepped up his attack on the decision, Mr Hazzard defended the government’s support for Tralee – a sharp turnaround from its stance on the project when in opposition.

Mr Hazzard said on Tuesday Tralee balanced the need for more housing near Queanbeyan while working within federal guidelines for developments near airports.

He had sought the advice of the independent NSW Planning Assessment Commission last year when elected, which he said indicated the developer at Tralee “could build up to 20 ANEF, and that’s what we’re seeing" with what has been approved.

Twenty ANEF is a noise-contour level, less intensive than the 25 ANEF contour more directly under the flight path, where flight noise would still affect the ability to have a conversation or listen to a television or radio.

The approved Tralee site would straddle the ANEF 20 boundary, meaning residents would hear aircraft noise from the 24-hour airport “depending on which way the wind is blowing", Mr Hazzard said.

“The main thing that happened, [the PAC] recommended or made observations about, was not doing any development between the 20 and 25 ANEF" contours, he said.

In a report from the PAC dated April 5, 2011, which Mr Hazzard agreed was the most recent advice, the commission said: “Residential development in South Tralee located outside but in close proximity to the 20 ANEF may still be affected by ­aircraft noise in the future."

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The PAC reiterated its advice to the previous Labor government in NSW that “a more appropriate planning outcome would be to locate new residential development in areas less affected by aircraft noise that do not require noise protection."

Mr Albanese has joined tourism groups and Canberra Airport chief Stephen Byron in deriding the decision. He said he would “certainly get advice" concerning any possible legal challenge but he conceded that the existing opinion was that this was a matter for NSW.

“The state government has made a decision, what I’m doing is making clear the federal government opposes this decision. I would have had exactly the same position when the former NSW government was proposing this," Mr Albanese said.

“Whoever has looked at this in an objective way has rejected this proposal, and [NSW Premier]
Barry O’Farrell
now looks completely ridiculous."

Mr Hazzard said he had taken into account “all the issues that Minister Albanese has spoken about" with respect to aircraft noise and not endangering Canberra Airport’s curfew-free operations.

“The only issue that he’s been interested in was having a political mud-slinging fight today, having a go at the Premier because the Premier has identified Canberra Airport may be an opportunity as a second airport for Sydney," he said.